New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-01
AMERICAS FLAG ON THE SEA
THE NEEDS OF THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY.
DEMANDS FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL PRE-
PARED BY THE SHIPPING AND INDUSTRIAL


The decline Of American Shipping is so universally
conceded that no figures needed to make apparent
its decadence 1t is asserted that the foreign
trade tonnage the Atlantic Coast Is less than H.
was in 1910; and yet In 1850, Golden, the great
English Free-Trader, said In Parliament; =" be as
sured, IL you want to be prepared for future war,
you will be better prepared in the way that the
United States Is prepared-by the enormous number
Of merchant chips of large tonnage constantly
building in the vast number of steamers turning out
of the building yards at New-York-those enormous
steamers, finer than any to be found in the royal
navies of any country on the Continent OF Europe
Her mercantile marine alone-the growth OF COM
nerce-would be more than match for any war
navy that exists on the Continent of Europe
It IL worth noting that The London shipping
Gazette" the great ship paper of England. on July
contained III editorial column long devoted
10 the consideration of American shipping and the
prospects of its revival. 1t important says the
writer that should have intelligent appreben-
sion of What Ia going on in order that we may oe
ready to take effectively defensive part in the
competit on, If such competition should at any time
be established" He says there are two remedies
suggested, one I" which is protection in It's worst
FORM" being the awarding of subsidies and bounties
to American shipowners, and the other. the aDOii-
ton of all taxes and laws which limit and cripple the
shipowner."-in short free trade. He adds: The
fact is that ships be built UGH more cneaply in
Great Britain than in the United States. and the
American ship-owner consulting his own interest and
ships in the cheapest market"
This PLAN OF course, would suit Engshmen best,
and it is not surprising to find the writer OF the
orinion thai the policy OF free trade IN ships Will wn
Never theess he concludes thus: " We may be quite
sure 1t will be many long year before America again
has n large fleet of merchant ships or carries on ship
building TO extent ia her ports but none the less
IL is incumbent us to keep our weather eye lift
ing and to shape according to the ndica-
tons which msy from time to time reach Us from
across tue Atlantic
A GENERAL DEMAND FOR A BOUNTY LAW.
This advce about the necessity OF keeping our
weather eye lifting applies with much greater force
here A reporter of The TRIBUNE devoted much
time visiting the offices of the American steamship
lines in NewYork-alas, there are not many oil them
to ascer ain what remedies the men most concerned
had to propose for the sickness unto death which has
fallen upon their industry. Said j. 5. Cameron, OF
Clydes West Indian Line:
awe are one and 81 united in favor of the bill put
forth by the American Shipping and Industrial
League Ot this the reporter found confirmation by
inauiring OF Aaron Vanderbilt general superintendent
OF the New-York and CnOa mail steamship Company
Captain j. 81 Laehan. manager o. the United States
and Brazil Mail Steamship Company Ambrose Snow
and Others. THIS bill, which the next Congress will
be asked to pass provides there shall be paid
on. money. in the Treasury OF the United States
70 any vessel, whether sail or steam, built and owned
wholly IN the United States engaged in the foreign
trade the OF 80 cents per registered ton tor each
1000 miles sailed, aud pro rata for any distance
travelled less than 1000 miles any voyage or
voyages bet ~esn this aud any foreign country or
counlrrs' etc. The bill further provides that the
payment OF 80 cents per ton shall continue for ten
years aud thereafter tor another term OF nine years
al a reduction of cents Ter ton.
COMPETING AGAINST SUBSIDIZED LINES.
The reporter found practical accord In the reasons
ur ed for the pa sage OF the bounty law believe.
said Mr.. Vanderbilt, that tonnage or bounty law
would he the best method OF reviyng shipping in
tr.1 mi hal that
we have al present actually 800 900 tons Of snip
ping engaged IN the foreign trade, While England has
about 6,0OOOOO tons Her steamships IN the foreign
trade alone number about 5000. with an aggregate
tonnage OF 1900 900, while III the foreign tr de the
UDned States have about forty steamships only, with
an a gre late tonnage OF $4,000 To attain this COM
mandpg position England has subsidized her mer-
chant m rine to the extent OF s2ooOOO,OV0 during
the last forty years
absorprd our Mediterranean aud Eat Indian trade
spanish steamships, with bounty OF III NJ per mile,
are now taking from Us the West Indian aud Gull
trade and English steamships, aided by n subsidy oil
SsOO,OG0 per annum, running IRON vancouver to
China and Japan IN connection WIN The Canadian
Pacific Ralroad endeayoring TO absorb our
ranspaciGc trade. Spanish -ubsidzed ships have
begun compete for the uade between San Francis
co and Central aud South America on the west coast
Thus surrounded by competitors who receive help
IRON their Governments see no prospect OF any
thin but bret existence tor our foreign shipping
unless the Government comes to the rescue"
FREE TRADE IL SHIPS 80 REMEDY.
And l., this efect spoke Ambrose Snow, who is first
vie !. president OF the League. ana has been in ;he
shi,, business all his life: The remedy proposed by
our competitors u free trade IN shiDs remedy 80
remote from accomplishment thar the utter extinction
! rf all foreign trade under our own dag will have
txIen place long before the ircctrade dream Is
realize Inasmuch as Ii Is tact that what now re-
maus OF our merchant marine is Tor sale at prices
h.ow those nf foreign ccunlries. how in the name oil
common sense To be relieved by the passage OF
of purchasing ships In Europe The remedy must DO
one that will MAKE the foreign carrying trade prohta-
| bic - . =, A., .-..
principle nas taken such deep root in The country
nj legislation inmical to the principle Of protoction
TO nat indusries is impossible. Our shipping has
| TO face tho whelming influence OF Engianl' the
sub.dized shipping OF France, italy Spain aud Ger
MANY The question. as IL now sianus, Is SIMPLY
whether IL is better to expend certain sum OF money
Ia save this industry whether II Ia better to save
| rhe money and part with the industry. There goes
out from tbi- cOuLtry fabulous volume OF goods OF
every description. These goods are exported IN the
.bns oi our competitors. Such representation AS We
have In foreign markets de- ends upon them, ana
their interest is TO turn trade ~ favor OF their own
| countries The Germans. the French. the spanish,
the Italians have had tree trade 10 ships tor many
,ears but still found themselves obliged TO resort
to some plan which would prevent tne loss 81 tner
I ne fatal mi take which they all make Is III conthu-
ing their free Trade in ships subsidy or bounty must
not be associated with Tree trade IL Ia "a narrow
view which oonsiders acne the shipowncrs interest
Ia this question ID concerns lar wider iniereets Inc
relief OF the .bpowner has not been the primary OBJ
Zee, of foreign Governments In coming to his relief
TO mention only other consideration they have
seen the necessity OF retaining an industry on which
so much depends tor their defence in time OF war;
| LIE, IAL LAWS OF OTHER NATIONS.
IL will be observed that muoh stress is laid upon
the fact that other Governments pay bounties.
statement OF what some of these bolnfies are will
therefore be of interest In France construction
bounties granted upon the gross tonnage OF the
vesseI built IN France amounting to 81 os per
Tor iron or steel vessels ~ ~ per ton tor composite
vessels SO SO per ton for wooden ships OF over 200
ions and 81 l3 per for wooden vessels OF less
than 200 tons For every 90 pounds # machinery
placed on board 81, 81 allowed. navigation
bounty Is also paid at the rate OF ~ cents per ton Tor
bounty u reduced cent per Ton tor each year an
iron vessel has been aoat and L cents IN the case
of wooden vessels Vessels built OF iron accord Dg
to the PLANS OF the Navy Department receive 10 per